Arizona lawmakers react to U.S. missile strike on Syria

President Trump says the strikes are intended to deter the use of chemical weapons, which the Syrian government is accused of using on civilians in Douma, a suburb of Damascus.
USA TODAY

The Damascus sky lights up with surface-to-air missile fire as the U.S. launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the Syrian capital, early Saturday, April 14, 2018.(Photo: Hassan Ammar, AP)

Several members of Arizona's congressional delegation quickly offered support for President Donald Trump's Friday order for missile strikes against Syria in response to its recent use of chemical weapons on civilians in that war-torn nation.

Sen. John McCain

“I applaud the president for taking military action against the Assad regime for its latest use of chemical weapons, and for signaling his resolve to do so again if these heinous attacks continue. I am grateful to our British and French allies for joining us in this action," said McCain, who has been in Arizona since late December as he has undergone treatment for brain cancer and recovered from related side effects.

“I hope these strikes impose meaningful costs on Assad. The message to Assad must be that the cost of using chemical weapons is worse than any perceived benefit, that the United States and our allies have the will and capability to continue imposing those costs, and that Iran and Russia will ultimately be unsuccessful in protecting Assad from our punitive response," McCain said.

McCain also said the United States still needs a comprehensive strategy for Syria and the entire region, adding that the air strikes "will not achieve U.S. objectives in the Middle East'' without a broader strategy.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly holds a joint press conference with the French Army Chief of Staff, at the Ministry of the Armed Forces in Paris, on April 14, 2018, following a Defense Council after United States, Britain and France carried out a wave of pre-dawn strikes against Syria's regime in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack. Christophe Archambault, AFP/Getty Images

A Syrian soldier films the damage of the Syrian Scientific Research Center which was attacked by U.S., British and French military strikes to punish President Bashar Assad for suspected chemical attack against civilians, in Barzeh, near Damascus, Syria on April 14, 2018. The Pentagon says none of the missiles filed by the U.S. and its allies was deflected by Syrian air defenses, rebutting claims by the Russian and Syrian governments. Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, also says there also is no indication that Russian air defense systems were employed early Saturday in Syria. Hassan Ammar, AP

In this image released by the Department of Defense, a U.S. Air Force B-1 Bomber separates from the boom pod after receiving fuel from an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker on April 13, 2018, en route to strike chemical weapons targets in Syria. President Donald Trump declared "Mission Accomplished" for a U.S.-led allied missile attack on Syria's chemical weapons program, but the Pentagon said the pummeling of three chemical-related facilities left enough others intact to enable the Assad government to use banned weapons against civilians if it chooses. Department of Defense via AP

United States Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley votes on a resolution during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria at United Nations headquarters in New York on April 14, 2018 Jason Szenes, EPA-EFE

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows the damage of the Syrian Scientific Research Center which was attacked by U.S., British and French military strikes to punish President Bashar Assad for suspected chemical attack against civilians, in Barzeh, near Damascus, Syria on April 14, 2018. A Syrian military statement said in all, 110 missiles were fired by the U.S., Britain and France and that most of them were shot down or derailed. Russia's military said Syrian air defense units downed 71 out of 103 cruise missiles launched by the U.S. and its allies. SANA via AP

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows the damage of the Syrian Scientific Research Center which was attacked by U.S., British and French military strikes to punish President Bashar Assad for suspected chemical attack against civilians, in Barzeh, near Damascus, Syria on April 14, 2018. A Syrian military statement said in all, 110 missiles were fired by the U.S., Britain and France and that most of them were shot down or derailed. Russia's military said Syrian air defense units downed 71 out of 103 cruise missiles launched by the U.S. and its allies. SANA via AP

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows the damage of the Syrian Scientific Research Center which was attacked by U.S., British and French military strikes to punish President Bashar Assad for suspected chemical attack against civilians, in Barzeh, near Damascus, Syria on April 14, 2018. SANA via AP

Director, Joint Staff, US Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., briefs the press on the strikes against Syria, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 14. 2018. The Pentagon said Saturday that a joint US-British-French operation against Syria's regime had "successfully hit every target," countering assertions from Russia that dozens of missiles were intercepted. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) fires a Tomahawk land attack missile on April 14, 2018, as part of the military response to Syria's use of chemical weapons on April 7. The United States, France and Britain launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for an apparent chemical attack against civilians and to deter him from doing it again. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Trey Fowler, U.S. Navy via AP

Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White, left, and Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. participate in a news briefing at the Pentagon April 14, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia. The Pentagon held a briefing on the latest development of the strike in Syria. Alex Wong, Getty Images

Damascus is seen as the U.S. launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the capital early Saturday, April 14, 2018. Syria's capital has been rocked by loud explosions that lit up the sky with heavy smoke as U.S. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes in retaliation for the country's alleged use of chemical weapons. HASSAN AMMAR/AP

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, joined by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, speaks at the Pentagon, Friday, April 13, 2018, on the U.S. military response, along with France and Britain, in response to Syria's chemical weapon attack on April 7. CAROLYN KASTER/AP

This photograph obtained from the Twitter account of French Defense Minister, Florence Parly, shows French military aircraft launching early April 14, 2018, as western strikes hit Syrian military bases and research centers in and around the capital and the country's center, a monitor said, as the US, France, and Britain announced a joint operation. FRENCH DEFENCE MINISTER FLORENCE, AFP/Getty Images

This image made from video shows a fighter jet taking off from Akrotiri military British Royal Air Force Base, Cyprus, Saturday, April 14, 2018. Fighter jets were seen taking off from a British Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus early on Saturday morning. Their destination was not revealed. The jets took off from Akrotiri Military Base, Cyprus, ahead of US President Donald Trump's announcement that the US, France and Britain together launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for his alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians and to deter him from doing it again.( AP

National Security Advisor John Bolton listens as US President Donald Trump addresses the nation on the situation in Syria April 13, 2018 at the White House in Washington, DC. MANDEL NGAN, AFP/Getty Images

President Trump speaks in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Washington, about the United States' military response to Syria's chemical weapon attack on April 7. Susan Walsh, AP

White House chief of staff John Kelly arrives before President Donald Trump speaks in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Washington, about the United States' military response to Syria's chemical weapon attack on April 7. Susan Walsh, AP

President Donald Trump walks in to speak in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Washington, about the United States' military response to Syria's chemical weapon attack on April 7. Susan Walsh, AP

This image released early April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian rescuers and medics said the attack on Douma killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. The alleged attack in Douma occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce. Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP

An image taken from a video released by the Syrian civil defense in Douma shows a volunteer holding an oxygen mask over a child's face at a hospital following a reported chemical attack on the rebel-held town on April 8, 2018. AFP/Getty Images

his image released April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a rescue worker carrying a child following an alleged chemical weapons attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP

An image taken from a video released by the Syrian Civil Defense in Douma, Syria shows unidentified volunteers giving aid to children at a hospital following a reported chemical attack on the rebel-held town on April 8, 2018. AFP/Getty Images

Bodies of victims of an alleged chemical attack lie on the ground in Douma, Syria on April 8, 2018. According to media and local reports, at least 70 people died after a helicopter dropped a barrel bomb allegedly containing Sarin gas, a nerve toxin that kills within minutes of direct inhalation unless treated quickly with an antidote. EMAD ALDIN, EPA-EFE

Rep. Martha McSally

“What we are seeing from our president and our allies is a targeted, proportional, and necessary global response to this violation of international law," McSally said.

"These strikes will send Assad — and his puppet master (Vladimir) Putin and enabler Iran — a clear message: The world will not stand by idly while they commit these atrocities. We stand firm with our coalition partners, Britain and France, and with the brave men and women who are leading these attacks," McSally said.

Sinema said the strikes on Syria send a clear message against Assad's use of chemical weapons. She pledged to continue working with Democrats and Republicans in Congress on a long-term strategy to address the crisis in Syria.

"The use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians is despicable and must be condemned by every nation. Striking at Assad's capacity to deploy chemical weapons sends a powerful signal that the use of these heinous weapons will not be tolerated," Sinema said.

"The administration must work with Congress to develop a clear, unified, and effective strategy to end the conflict in Syria, remove Assad from power, address the humanitarian crisis, and defeat ISIS," Sinema added.

Reactions from other members of the Arizona delegation were not immediately available late Friday.

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Fighter jets were seen taking off from a British Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus early on Saturday morning. (April 13)
AP